Also known as the Gem State due to its natural beauty, Idaho is a great place to live in. Known for its mountainous landscape, large tracts of wilderness and outdoor recreation areas, Idaho borders six states and Canada. An important agriculture state, Idaho produces all three varieties of wheat and roughly one-third of potatoes grown in the United States. People come to Idaho to experience its wilderness and stay back for its lifestyle. There are so many places in Idaho that offer such terrific and safe lifestyles that you will be spoilt for choice in selecting your new hometown.
Housing Market in Idaho
With a population of 226,570, Boise, the capital of Idaho, shows great demand for housing with no apparent signs of slowing down. However, housing prices here are still amongst the lowest in the nation. Moving to Boise is a good choice as the city is known for its diverse culture, job opportunities, natural beauty, and its breweries. Those interested in music and art will find ample scope to either be a participant or an audience. Boise is also amongst the safest cities in the nation.
Homes listed online in Idaho generally stay for around 88 days, while the average stay on the market is between 28 to 33 days. The housing market overall health score for Idaho is around 8.7 out of 10. That is almost an `A”. Development is taking place in various parts of Idaho such as around Coeur d’Alene, around Boise, in the southwest around Idaho Falls, and the south-central area, near Twin Falls. Depending on your requirements you could check out other locations in Idaho as well.
Why Meridian Idaho?
One of the best cities in Idaho to raise a family, Meridian is the gem of the Gem State. USA Today has conferred Meridian Idaho with the best city status in places to move. Despite its metropolitan status, the city still retains its small-town feel. Just around ten miles west of Boise, Meridian Idaho offers everything that a family would prioritize as important.
Safety First
One of the top factors that attract families to Meridian is the low crime rate. The overall crime rate in Meridian is over 50% lower than the nation’s average crime rate. While one of the reasons for this low rate can be attributed to Meridian being the Idaho State Police headquarters and also home to the Idaho State Police Academy; it is also a thriving family community with upstanding residents.
Affordable Housing
More families in Meridian prefer buying a house rather than renting. One of the best cities in Idaho for families, Meridian offers affordable housing. This shows in the figures for ownership and renter-occupied housing in Meridian. Ownership in Meridian is 15% higher and renter-occupied houses are 30% lower than the national average. The rise in the number of jobs has resulted in new construction and development in and around Meridian. While there are new neighborhoods to move into, there are also the older houses that are available on the market. Meridian has excellent professional realty companies to help you find homes for sale in Meridian Idaho, irrespective of whether you are looking for new development, an old existing house or planning to get a contractor to build your own dream home.
Employment Opportunities
Opportunities exist in the fields of education, administration, healthcare, technology, and manufacturing. With close to 50 schools and the Boise State University next door, employment opportunities exist for teachers, professors, administration staff and professionals. The national unemployment rate averages 4.7%, while the unemployment rate in Boise valley stands at 3.7%, a good one percent below the national average. Similarly, while the national average for household income is around $54,100; the average household income in Meridian is about $64,100. According to the nationwide average, both genders in Meridian have a higher earning than their counterparts elsewhere.
Cost of Living
At 2% lower than the national average, goods and services in Meridian make the cost of living here rather low. Although housing costs on average is a teeny bit more than other places; with low cost of living, employment opportunities and safety, that is to be expected, with demand outstripping supply. However, other living costs are much lower than the national average. Groceries are around 11% lower, utilities around 14% lower, and gasoline around 8% lower than the national average.
Education Options
As mentioned earlier, Meridian is an excellent place to move to with the family – and that involves education options for the children. The West Ada School District is the largest and has the best test scores across Idaho. That makes it about 13% higher than the national average. Meridian also boasts of a completion rate of 90.7% for its high schools. With numerous public and private schools, from kindergarten to high school levels, there are many options to choose from. High Schools offer multiple aptitudes such as Medical Arts, Industrial Arts, and Engineering. Commuting to Boise State University, Albertson College or College of Western Idaho from Meridian is just about a 30-minute ride. This allows students to either stay at the family home or move closer to the campus, and still visit home during weekends and holidays.
The Bottom Line
Offering its fair share to the natural beauty of Idaho, Meridian features stunning wide-open spaces and breathtaking mountain vistas. A camping or hiking trip to the mountains is just about an hour away from Meridian. Other activities that you and your family can indulge in are fishing, biking, skiing, golf, hunting, boating, field sports, and swimming. Considering all that Meridian has to offer, it deserves the tag of one of the best family cities to move to. A place that started as a suburb of Boise and was initially a predominantly farming community, has transformed into one of the fastest-growing cities in the US. For those looking for the benefits and offerings of a city but with the comfort and safety of a small town, Meridian is just the place to shift to.
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